SCO Receives $250,000 Grant for Patient Care

SCO Receives $250,000 Grant for Patient Care

Southern College of Optometry has received a $250,000 grant from United Healthcare to assist lower-income households with vision care in the Memphis area. Originally slated to begin in March 2020, the program encountered an 18-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The need for accessible vision care like this has always been great. But the circumstances of the last year have made the situation especially challenging for many Memphians who cannot effectively work, learn or even drive without proper correction,” said Suzy Sonnier, Vice President Strategy and Development, UnitedHealthcare Community & State for Tennessee.

“From an insurer’s perspective, there is great value in preventive optometric care, which can identify visual impairment as well as a number of other health issues, like diabetes, which can lead to adverse health outcomes if left unchecked. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this resource for the Memphis community in partnership with SCO.”

The grant, which covers the cost of an individual’s vision exams and eyeglasses for one year, is available to both adult and pediatric patients living in three Memphis area ZIP codes. Patients who do not live in those areas but who lack major medical insurance or Vision Discount Plan benefits may also qualify.

Grant-funded services are available at all three of SCO’s public clinics. Appointments are available until the funding is depleted, and the college hopes to serve more than 3,000 people.

“Untreated visual impairment is a critical issue that contributes to other societal concerns, like school drop-out rates, unemployment and incarceration,” said Dr. Lewis Reich, president of SCO. “Addressing these issues now, both for adults and children, is a step toward improving their lives for years to come. It’s life-changing for them, rewarding for us, and impactful for our community as a whole.”